Television presenter, entrepreneur, two decades as a mental health professional, philanthropist, award-winning musician and author, Nyakudya very capably burns the candle at both ends.

Every second of her time – in studio talking current affairs, at a business meeting, taking her teenage starlet son to a football game, a school conference – has to be accounted for.

Interestingly, she has earned her stripes belting out soulful melodies.

And, 15 years ago, she was singled out as one of gospel's most powerful voices, getting the much-coveted National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA) award nomination in Zimbabwe for her debut effort – This is Now.

With that album, she has added her voice to that most unique of choirs, the choir of those whose every chorus is dedicated to healing the wounded with the sweet melodies of gospel.

Her background

But for Nyakudya, that was not the start of her journey as a healer. Her real journey started five years before that recognition by her native country's most prestigious award ceremony.

Born in Zimbabwe in 1978, Nyakudya joined the great trek to the United Kingdom in 1997 after having spent her childhood and teen years in her country of birth. 

It was in the land of the Queen, where she joined that country's much time-honoured National Health Service (NHS) that Nyakudya's journey as a healer well and truly took off. 

"I always thought I'd study Law, but when I moved to the UK in 1997 my aunt told me about mental health.

"My late mother had to deal with mental health issues and my aunt was so convinced it would resonate with me.

"I looked it up and felt it was definitely the right thing to do," Nyakudya said from her Birmingham base.

20 years on, those that know her too well like her husband, Nathan, testify of her "deep sense of compassion and commitment towards people in need of emotional and psychological support".

All-rounder

The multifaceted Nyakudya, who is also a presenter on Zimbolive TV, makes use of her array of skills and resources to empower the despairing.

The mother of three boys worked in the NHS, a comprehensive public-health service under government administration in the United Kingdom, between 2000 and 2016 in various positions rising through middle to senior management. 

And her mission, amidst all the things she does, is "to equip people with quality mental health care to make informed and healthy decisions about themselves, their relationships and their future". 

Studies & vast experience

Before she equipped others, Nyakudya had to equip herself and the best place to do that was in the classroom. She holds a Diploma in Mental Health Nursing attained at Birmingham University, Bsc in Health Studies at Wolverhampton University and an Msc in Public Health & Health Development attained at Birmingham City University.

She also underwent business and entrepreneurship training at the Birmingham City University after being seconded for the European Union's Bseen program. 

Following her studies, she gained further experience within a Mental Health Intensive Care Unit, a Forensic Psychiatric Unit, working with criminal offenders as well as with victims of crime. She also got to work with people struggling with eating disorders.

Her stellar work as a mental health professional however, is only one of multiple strings in her bow.

She now runs her company, Lorac Health Care in the United Kingdom that provides support for people with mental health and learning disabilities to reintegrate into their communities and reach their optimal.

Youth mentorship

In April, she starts the first leg of her 2020 African tours in South Africa, before going to Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia. She will speak to journalists, football stars, teenage groups, university students, primary school learners, security officers and fellow musicians about their mental wellbeing.

With her authentic interest in youth, she has mentored several youths in the United Kingdom, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The initiative, run under her charity, Lorac Health Foundation, saw her take five youths under her wing in 2003. The group, which later grew to 40 over a period of 10 years, was trained to make sound, fundamental decisions in key areas of their lives.

"We also helped the group find a sense of purpose in life," she explained.

Some of those youths, she added, have risen above the blight of institutional racism in the UK and have gone on to become professors, doctors, lawyers, sought-after chefs and nurses.

Mobile application

Despite juggling her many roles, her music has not suffered, boasting a string of several high profile award nominations.

Her latest single - Keep On - is aimed at encouraging Africans to hold on amidst the challenges facing the continent. Following the release of the inspirational song, she is on the verge of initiating a mobile application that helps with snap counselling and an SOS pad for people dealing with mental health issues, drug dependence, general anxiety, depression and emotional health.

Without a doubt, her journey demands her to strike a balance between the various aspects of her life.

 "Over the years I've had to learn to manage my time quite well. If you're going to strike a balance you've got to be disciplined with time. It also helps that on the work front I've a capable team that I trust so much. So, that gives me a bit of leeway to also do music and my television presenting on the side."

Television award

A jack of a lot of trades and a master of most of them, Nyakudya has been nominated for the All Women Achievers Awards 2020 for her ingenuity in television presenting in the UK.

Her current affairs show on Zimbolive TV, an online television portal, is one to beat in the Media Presenter of the Year category. The ceremony will be held at the?Brooklands Conferencing & Banqueting Suite in Wolverhampton on March 7.

"My previous awards and nominations have been in music, so it's quite exciting that this time I get recognition for the work I've done in the media space.

"I thoroughly enjoy television presenting. Over the years, I've learnt to immerse myself in the media space and I strive to teach my audience something they have not heard before each time I'm on air," Nyakudya said.

Her passion on set is telling stories about the diaspora community in an effort to inspire Africans to unite and take pride in their African identity.

She summed up her healer journey thus far when she co-authored the book Beyond the scars – Real life accounts of women who overcame adversity.

And she has no intention to slow down – she is determined to keep going!   

Carole Nyakudya is definitely no ordinary woman!

Source of Images is Wave Photography